Liam

 

The man I grinded up in the garbage disposal died in the hospital. He managed to come through a lengthy surgery, only to die during the night.

The official ruling was that his heart wasn’t able to withstand all the trauma to the rest of his body.

The unofficial ruling and my personal opinion? Someone slipped into his room and injected a little something into his IV to make it look like his ticker gave out.

Considering Agent Frost could neither confirm nor deny the theory just proved I was right.

It was just too fucking convenient that the only man who could provide damning testimony to potentially put Crone back in the slammer was no longer alive to give it. He died before he could give his sworn testimony to the FBI—also very convenient.

And now here we were, almost two weeks from that hell night, and the FBI had bupkis in building a case strong enough to put Crone away.

Bellamy had nightmares. She’d wake up screaming and holding her stomach, begging for the baby to be spared. Even though the kitchen had been entirely cleaned, the sink replaced, and the garbage disposal completely removed, I’d still find her periodically staring down the drain as though that man’s pulped-up hand was down there.

I had to do something.

Waiting around for Crone to strike again was just not an option. Expecting the FBI to do something was laughable.

Alex cautioned about what it might cost me to kill Crone. From where I stood, knowing that asshole was dead was priceless.

It was our only way out. Even if the FBI could make the case against him for what happened, it wouldn’t be over. He’d keep sending people, even from his cell. As long as Perry Crone breathed, my family was at risk.

We drew closer to the arrival of my son, and this wasn’t the kind of world I wanted him to be born into. He deserved better.

My wife deserved better.

I had to kill Crone.

I couldn’t go to him, though. Getting close to a notorious crime boss would be next to impossible. Even if I managed, there would be too many people who could possibly place me at the scene of his murder.

That left one option.

Lure him out. If Crone himself came at us and I killed him, I wouldn’t need an alibi. Self-defense would stand.

And we would finally be free.

“I thought you said you wanted to keep it quiet as long as possible that you were returning to the pros,” Bellamy said quietly, glancing around warily.

“Joiner says we need the press. It keeps sponsors happy. It brings in a bigger paycheck.”

Bellamy frowned. “If this is about the house…”

I spun to fully face her and palmed her shoulders. Bending so I was eye level with her, I spoke. “This isn’t about the house, sweetheart. I could never make another paycheck again, snowboarding or from the resort, and we would still have more than enough money to live on for the rest of our lives.”

“Then why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“It’s not sudden. I’ve been training for months.”

She didn’t seem convinced, and I didn’t want her to worry. Dragging my hands from her shoulders to clasp her fingers, I answered, “You said you followed my career while we were apart?”

She nodded. “For as long as I could.”

Just the reminder of why she stopped was enough to strengthen my resolve to do this. “Then you know I did interviews and press all the time. It’s part of the business, part of being a pro athlete.”

Her teeth sank into her lower lip as she thought it over. “Tom said this would help you?”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

She nodded, making her hair sway around her shoulders. After her head healed enough, she’d gotten her hair cut so it was all the same length. She came home in tears because she’d lost so much length and was worried I would hate it.

Like I could ever. The honey-colored locks were just past her shoulders now, and I thought it was beautiful. Hell, I would think she was gorgeous even if she was bald, and I told her as much.

“Are you up for this today? After everything that’s happened, is it too much?” I asked, worried.

She made a dismissive sound. “I’m fine. Being almost murdered so many times barely fazes me anymore.”

“Bells,” I said, partly shocked and totally horrified.

She rubbed a soothing palm over my scruff. “Sorry. That was a bad joke.”

Joke or not, part of it was true. All the more reason I had to do this. I didn’t have a choice.

She sighed. “We have to live our life, Liam. Crone took a lot from me. From you. We can’t let him take any more.” After a slight pause, she cocked her head to the side. “Besides. Maybe all the extra press attention will make it harder for him to get to us. With them camped out everywhere to get a shot of you, sending hitmen will be a lot harder.”

Maybe. But I was hoping like hell it actually drew him in. Perry Crone was a smart man, but he was cocky. No doubt, after buying his way out of prison, he was feeling pretty untouchable right about now.

Good.

Cocky men made mistakes. I was hoping he would see this interview and know I was calling him out.

I seized her face between my hands, marveling at how they swallowed up her cheeks. She was so small… but so big. “I love you so goddamn much, Mrs. Mattison. You got balls bigger than most of the men I know.”

She smiled as I said the first part, but then she blanched and wrinkled her nose. “Thank you?”

I threw back my head and laughed.

“You’re right, though,” I said, a teasing glint in my eye. “This interview will draw attention, and people will be curious about you. About us. After all, I’m returning as a married man.”

“Whatever will your groupies say?” she exclaimed, sarcastic.

Joiner approached, calling my name. “They’re ready for you.”

“Be right there,” I called.

“Go stand with Alex,” I told her, gesturing toward him with my chin.

She rolled her eyes.

“Give me some sugar.” I leaned down for my kiss, but she turned her cheek, and my lips grazed her ear.

“You’re gonna pay for that later.” I promised.

A spark of desire lit her blue eyes, and she smirked.

Instead of kissing her, I leaned down and held her stomach. “Daddy has to go to work. You stay here with Mommy.”

“Where else is he going to go?” Bellamy wondered above me.

Caressing her stomach, I whispered, “Love you.”

He kicked right into my palm. My stomach flipped with the action. I guess he really did know my voice.

I pulled back to head toward the interview, but Bellamy caught my hand. “I changed my mind.”

I raised a brow. “Did you now?”

She nodded once. “I want my kiss.”

I pursed my lips, considering.

“Mattison!” Joiner yelled, impatient.

I swooped in and planted one on her, then jogged off toward the television crew. I had a comeback to announce and, hopefully, a hook to bait.